In most cases, dogs must be sedated for the exam and radiography to take place. Vets diagnose a torn CCL through physical examination, joint manipulation and X-rays. Additionally, females appear slightly more predisposed to the condition than males. Interestingly, dogs who are neutered or spayed are more likely to experience a torn cruciate ligament. Some research indicates that this is one of the few conditions that may be more prevalent among mixed-breed dogs. According to research published in the journal Acta Veterinaria Brno, breeds at a higher risk of tearing their CCL include Labrador retrievers, Rottweilers, American cocker spaniels, chow chows, German shorthaired pointers, American Staffordshire terriers and Brazilian mastiffs. Affected dogs are typically middle-aged and hail from larger breeds. While it's impossible to know whether any individual dog will grow up to tear their CCL, some dogs are more likely to suffer CCL disease than others. While the knee may be uncomfortable to move, lameness may be due to instability rather than discomfort. Overt pain is not a common sign of a torn CCL. Some of these signs can be very subtle to nonexistent. An asymmetric sitting posture in which the lower part of the limb is angled away from the body.A decreased range of motion in the affected knee.

Thickening of the bony part of the affected knee.Mild to severe weakening of the thigh muscles in the affected limb.Here are additional signs that your dog might have a torn CCL: Once limping is observed, pet parents tend to notice a pattern of chronic intermittent lameness lasting for 48 to 72 hours. Signs of a Torn CCLДЄ torn CCL in dogs may seem to come on suddenly, but in most cases the ligament has been weakening for months. This process ultimately results in osteoarthritis. With each progressive tear, the joint becomes more inflamed. As the ligament degenerates, small tears can occur, eventually leading the ligament to rupture and causing instability in the joint and an inability to successfully bear weight. While a torn ACL in humans is largely a result of traumatic events, a torn CCL in dogs is more likely to happen as a result of a progressive weakening of the ligament. Comparing Dog CCL Tears to Human ACL Tears (& Why They Happen) While many treatment options are available, the tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery is the most common approach to treating this condition. In dogs, this condition is referred to as a cranial cruciate ligament tear (CCL) tear or, more generally, as cruciate ligament disease, explains the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Anatomically speaking, a torn ACL in dogs is the same condition in humans, which happens when the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee suffers a loss of its integrity.

Dog acl surgery